Party affiliation: Republican

Date of birth: March 28, 1962

Hometown: Fayette

Occupation: Attorney

Education: Bates College, University of Maine Law School and University of Puget Sound

Community organizations: Vice chairman, Fayette Selectmen; former member, Fayette Planning Board ; Fayette Citizens for Farms and Open Space

Personal information (hobbies, etc.):

Family status: Widow; mother

Years in the Legislature: None

Clean Election candidate?:

1. As the director of a statewide business organization, part of my job was to encourage community leaders to run for elected office. As I implored them to make a personal sacrifice for their state, my own sense of responsibility to serve emerged. My background and experience give me the potential to be very effective.

2. Maine’s weak economy, and the irresponsible budgeting practices that have contributed to it, will be my main focus. The most pressing issue we face is our weak economy which leads to many undesirable outcomes; the loss of quality jobs, the lack of opportunity for our children, and the inability of Maine people to afford to work, retire and/or raise a family in Maine.

3. The principle behind TABOR – government limiting its growth to a size and expense that the people can afford – is good and should be implemented as a matter of course. I have concerns, however, with the approach. I would rather the people of Maine elect the leaders that will follow their will to implement this principle instead.

4. I believe in the principles in which our country was founded: that there should be a separation between church and state, and that our government is based on the principles of a secular government. The government’s role in people’s lives should stop at their front door, as long as the health, safety or welfare of the citizenry is not at risk.

5. Dirigo has fallen far short of its objectives of covering the uninsured of Maine. The mechanism to pay for the insurance program is fatally flawed, adding a new tax on private insurance premiums paid for by businesses, while booking nebulous savings from the program, adding costs for all other private insurance.

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